Joan Gamper Trophy: Everything You Need to Know and Every Champion Who Has Claimed It

Barcelona are set to host the 61st edition of the prestigious Joan Gamper Trophy on Wednesday, facing Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly at Camp Nou.

Serving as the final fixture of their preseason schedule ahead of the 2026–27 La Liga campaign, La Blaugrana are looking for a confidence-boosting result in what will be their first-ever encounter with African opposition in the storied Joan Gamper Trophy.

The tournament has existed for six decades, with 73 different clubs—including ever-present hosts Barça—having taken part across its various editions.

But what exactly is the Joan Gamper Trophy? And which teams have lifted it in the past?

What Is the Joan Gamper Trophy?

The Joan Gamper Trophy was established in 1966 as a tribute to one of the club's founding figures, former player and club president Joan Gamper. Barcelona have participated in every single edition and serve as the permanent hosts of the event.

Originally, the tournament featured four teams competing across two semifinals, a third-place playoff, and a final. Since 1997, however, the format was streamlined into a single friendly match to shorten the competition.

Clubs from across Europe and South America have been invited to take part, with the victorious side awarded the Joan Gamper Trophy.

In 2021, Barcelona Femení made their debut appearance in the competition, and they have gone on to win all four of their finals—defeating Juventus (on two occasions), Milan, and Montpellier.

Full List of Joan Gamper Trophy Winners

Barça have dominated the men's Joan Gamper Trophy, claiming victory in 47 of their 60 finals to date. Only 12 sides have managed to defeat them, with just four doing so in the 21st century—Monaco being the most recent visiting winners in 2024, claiming a convincing 3–0 triumph.

German club Köln, who were runners-up in the inaugural tournament, remain the only side other than Barça to have won the competition more than once. Their two victories came in 1978 and 1981, while they also finished as runners-up in 1979.

Hungarian club Újpest were the first visiting side to claim the title, defeating Dynamo Moscow in the final—with La Blaugrana finishing third that year—and Borussia Mönchengladbach followed suit just two years later.

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Brazil's Internacional became the first and only non-European winners in 1982, with Porto, Mechelen, Juventus, Manchester City, and Sampdoria all having claimed the trophy since then.

A total of 60 teams have competed in the Joan Gamper Trophy without ever winning it. Boca Juniors and Bayern Munich have each finished as runners-up on three separate occasions.